WAUPACA, Wis. – Last Thursday Trinity Lutheran Church hosted an event titled, “A Pagan and a Pastor: A Necessary Conversation” that featured Heathen, Rev. Ethan Stark of Heathens Against Hate, and Trinity Lutheran lead pastor, Rev. Andy Behrendt. Their conversation was focused on interfaith and gaining a better understanding of the two faiths.
Behrendt first met Stark several years ago when he agreed to co-officiate the marriage ceremony between Stark and his wife, who is Christian.
The program was live-streamed on Facebook and on Trinity Lutheran’s YouTube channel and is free to view.
The conversation between the two men ranged in topics from how they both came to their different spiritual paths and beliefs, how those faiths are expressed and interpreted by others, as well as encompassing nature, ecology, and the intersection with divinity.
Stark and Behrendt also answered some interesting and thoughtful questions posed by members of the audience. If the comments on Trinity Lutheran’s YouTube channel during the event are any indication, those who watched online were respectful and seemed pleased with the exchange and the answers offered by both men.
At the end of the session, Stark and Behrendt announced that they would be presenting the same format during the Parliament of the World’s Religions which will be held virtually for the first time in its history. TWH reported in May on the Parliament’s call for submissions and that it would be conducting the event virtually.
Editor’s note: The video is missing the sound at the beginning and starts at 1:47.
Crossings of the Veil
Herman Nash Enderle Jr. – November 22, 1939 – September 19, 2021
Herman Nash Enderle Jr. born and raised in Beaumont Texas was the son of Herman Nash Enderle Sr. and Elizabeth (neé Breen) Enderle.
Enderle Jr. was raised in the Catholic Church, and attended Lamar University in Texas, received a degree in engineering, and moved to Chicago in the 1960s to pursue his career. He became a member of the Rosicrucians and studied Christian magic, Qabala, the Mysteries of ancient Greece as well as southern Vodoun, Wicca, and folk magics that he encountered in his youth.
Around 1969, Enderle began working with the late Donna Cole (Donna Cole Schulz, 1937- 2004). Cole had returned from her studies and 1968 initiation into a British Gardnerian coven that was headed by initiates of Gerald Gardner. Cole and Enderle joined forces and organized a temple that blended Gardnerian Wicca with Western ceremonial magic, the Golden Dawn, and more. Cole was the High Priestess Morda and Enderle Jr. was the High Priest Hermes.
After Ginny Brubaker joined the temple in 1971, the group explored The Pagan Way and eventually named themselves “The Chicago Temple of the Pagan Way (ToPW),” with an inner and outer court for initiates, members, and friends.
Margot Adler visited ToPW in spring 1975 as part of her academic research that resulted in the book, Drawing Down the Moon. Adler spoke to several members, but because Enderle and another member were concerned for their professional positions, they did not sign the releases that were legally necessary for the Chicago ToPW to appear in Adler’s book.
Enderle had a mystical Underworld experience in late 1975 and changed his magical name from Hermes to Arawyn. He and some temple members who shared his spiritual interests and magical studies continued their works as Temple Uranus in 1975, with a concentration on Hermetics, the Eleusinian, Orphic, Isian, and Osirian Mysteries, various religions, cults, magicks, and philosophies of the ancient Mediterranean, Celtic, Near Eastern, and Indian worlds.
Enderle was in frequent communication with other Pagan leaders around the U.S., including Herman Slater and Ed Buczynski of New York’s Warlock Shop, which became the legendary Magical Childe. Slater & Enderle wove the Celtic, Greek, Egyptian, and Qabalistic strands of mysticism and magic together with Golden Dawn OTO. During late 1976 and early 1977, Temple Uranus evolved into the Chicago Earthstar Lodge, affiliated with the Earthstar Temple of NYC.
Enderle was at the center of the formation of the Midwest Pagan Council (MPC) and Earthstar became one of the original 10 member groups in the MPC. The first PanPagan Festival was in 1976, one of the earliest public outdoor camping gatherings for Midwestern Pagans of different traditions.
Earthstar Lodge relocated to Uptown in 1979 with Enderle as head of the order. Earthstar continued to have public as well as private rituals and offered a range of classes and workshops that spanned many magical and spiritual disciplines and practices. Enderle became the Hierophant in 1983, teaching many of the classes and participated in or hosting others. Over time resident members moved out and moved on, but clergy members started their own groups; Morningstar, Northstar, and The Hermetic Lodge among others.
Earthstar lodge became private in 1985, Enderle stopped going to most public Pagan events a couple of years later. In the early 1990s he suffered a life-threatening, physical attack and after recuperation, retired and withdrew almost entirely from public life.
Enderle is remembered as a kind and generous man. Over the decades he took in friends and acquaintances when they lost their apartment, or a relationship broke up, or parents kicked someone out, etc. He hosted and help organize numerous dinners, picnics, and parties over the decades.
He lived his final years much like a monk or hermit, as much as one can in a senior retirement community building, and neighbors enjoyed his friendliness. Enderle was delighted when people called him, wrote, or came to see him.
He enjoyed visiting parks and the forest preserve, but his great love was to be near Lake Michigan, whether walking, sitting on a bench, or cruising on Lake Shore Drive.
Enderle was aware of how his name and influence still resonated in the Chicagoland Pagan communities. Many Chicagoland covens, groups, and circles have come and gone that shared spiritual lineage with and through Herman Enderle and Donna Cole, some are still around the US and their daughter groups continue to emerge.
Enderle was very happy to know there are dedicants and students on the Path of Light that he walked over 50 years ago as the Priest Hermes, Hierophant Arawyn, Opener of the Ways, Brother Initiate.
Remembrance is written by Demetria Nanos, Chicago, IL
♥ ♥ ♥
Dr. Stephan Grundy/Kveldulf Gundarsson – June 28, 1967 – Sept 29, 2021
Kvelduflr Gundarsson [via Facebook]
His book Teutonic Magic (1990), was one of the first to be published on Northern traditions. He published both scholarship and religious material on modern adaptations of legendary sagas and on Germanic legends, Germanic paganism, and Germanic neopaganism. His dissertation focused on Odin and titled The Cult of Óðinn: God of Death? His novels included Rheingold, Gilgamesh, and the Falcon Dreams Series. He edited and contributed to the 1993 volume, Our Troth, The Ring of Troth.
Kveldulf was also a woodworker, jeweler, and gardener and enjoyed historical re-enactment. He was currently attending medical school in Ireland. He was supported and survived by his loving wife Melodi their local hof, The Tribe of Thor.
He was an elder of The Troth serving also as Lore Warden and Master of the Elder Training Program. He was of inclusive, anti-racist, and anti-sexist ideology and Heathenry including its objection to fascism. “He has fought for equality in transgendered communities, as well as fighting for the acceptance of Loki. Gundarsson has shaped heathenry through his numerous academic and fictional works as well as his extensive articles, thesis papers, and his creation and sustainment of the lore program within The Troth.
The Little Sisters Publishing wrote an official statement on Kveldulf Gundarsson’s crossing:
The Three Little Sisters is sad to announce the passing of Stephan Grundy aka Kveldulf Gundarsson, who passed away in his home. He is survived by his wife Melodi. Stephan was not just an author of TLS, he was a dear friend and mentor. When I began my path, he was there for me and would always support and answer my questions with such kindness. He was a brilliant author, who provided an extensive collection of works about heathenry, archeology, and spirituality along with a massive collection of fictional works. His spirit was one that I am profoundly grateful to have known, and he is someone with whom I am proud to say, I called a friend. His wife Melodi has graciously bestowed his legacy with us, and we will continue to print his works for future heathens. I am certain due to his deep commitment to his faith that Stephan is with our gods, and the afterlife is now lucky to have such a deeply kind and committed elder. I will miss him dearly. Stephan was an amazing man, who had such a light in him, no doubt his light will continue to guide others as it did me. We will miss you Stephan, know that you were cared for by many, all who light a torch to guide you along your way.–Larisa Hunter, President of TLS
Hail the Travelers!
What is remembered, lives!
More News
EUGENE, Ore. – Mountain Rose Herbs announced the five recipients of its annual Grants 4 Plants Program. The grant recipients are selected based on “projects that align with our values and will have a lasting positive impact in their communities and beyond. Join us in congratulating this year’s grantees and celebrating herbal education, environmental stewardship, and our plant-loving community!”
This year, the five recipients of the $5,000 grants were:
Tavon Learning Center, a nonprofit that works with those living with intellectual and developmental disabilities received a grant for their project that provides access to nature through their outdoor experiential education in their learning garden.
Flower Hill Institute (FHI), a Native-American managed and community-directed nonprofit whose focus “include preserving and enhancing Tribal cultural resources, preparing youth to inherit leadership roles, improving economic self-sufficiency, organizing intertribal initiatives, and improving climate change resiliency.” FHI also combines a mix of western sciences and Native ecology to help better prepare and interest Native American youth in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
The Detroit Chapter of Herbalists Without Borders (HWB) for their work to create a space for processing herbal remedies in a food-safe kitchen at a central location, as well as hold meetings and other events to share skills and educate the community in the rent-free art house Sound House has provided them with space in.
Nonprofit, Holistic Divine Innovations, was awarded a grant for their creative and innovative approaches to holistic, self-sustainability via gardening, agriculture, and herbalism. The organization’s new Herbal Zen Garden seeks to expand food sources, beautify the city, as well as provide a blueprint for wellness practices and lifestyles centered on herbal gardening, processing, and preparations.
Somerville Community Growing Center was chosen for its expanding Community Herb Project that seeks to continue to strengthen the community diversity by utilizing the knowledge and experience of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color herbalists with fair compensation. The project also encompasses more programming for children and caregivers, increasing herbal processing capabilities, and honoring the original stewards of the land.
Mountain Rose Herbs has a long history of providing ethically sourced, organic herbal and botanical products with a Zero Waste Facility Certification, and is focused on operating as green as possible, utilizing solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations for its employees.
Congratulations to all grant winners!
♣ ♣ ♣
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – An oil spill off the southern coast of California is being reported as having a catastrophic environmental impact. Reuters reported that oil slick created by the spill covers 13 square miles of the Pacific Ocean and is estimated to be roughly 126,000 gallons of oil.
Huntington Beach mayor, Kim Carr said during a press conference the spill was a “potential ecological disaster,” and that, “Our wetlands are being degraded and portions of our coastline are now covered in oil.”
The spill cause is connected to a rupture connected to the Elly oil rig and will affect the coast from Huntington Beach down to Newport Beach, areas very popular with beachgoers and surfers.
The flow has been stopped but cleanup of the #HuntingtonBeach oil spill continues. Spent most of the day flying over the spill and saw oil drifting as far south as the waters off #CrystalCove. Oil sheens seen in the wetlands and Santa Ana River. @CBSLA #HuntingtonBeachoilspill pic.twitter.com/id3zcf91a0
— John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) October 4, 2021
The impact to ocean wildlife and plants is unknown at this point but past spills have had horrific results killing thousands of fish, other sea life, birds and contaminating beaches and other wildlife areas. There is also serious concern over the impact on human populations, water sources, and communities.
As a result of a spill in 1969 near Santa Barbara, California enacted much stricter regulations for offshore drilling, and environmental controls. Offshore drilling operations have been in major decline since the 1990s largely due to increased environmental protections and restrictions on drilling.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a fishery closure order yesterday that read, in part:
That the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has determined
that a threat to public health is likely by fishing in the affected area or consuming fish or shellfish that may have been affected by the spill, and that a fishing and shellfish harvesting closure is recommended as stated below:• For the coastal area – from Warner Ave, Huntington Beach to Crown Valley
Parkway, Dana Point, including the shorelines and offshore areas and all bays
and harbors between these points.
• For the offshore area – an extension of the coastal points to six miles offshore,
as shown in the attached map.This fisheries closure is recommended during an investigation to determine and
establish the degree and nature of the public health threat posed.
No estimate has been offered on how long clean-up will take or when access to beaches or fishing will be allowed.
Positively Noteworthy
In response to an Amazon review of her book, Sigil Witchery, Laura Tempest Zakroff posted a hilarious and “helpful” response.
The reviewer, listed as “hotrobot” wrote, “For the love of the gods do not buy this book. I have been super interested in making sigils for a long time but didn’t know where to start so I found this book and omg I literally could not even open the damn thing because of this insane amount of negative energy coming from it. This is going to sound freaking crazy, but I am pretty sensitive to spirits and energies and I heard literally screaming inside this book. So if you want a haunted and tortured book on your shelf go for it, otherwise don’t buy this book.”
TWH writers who own a copy of Sigil Witchery were all disappointed to note that none of their collective copies were haunted nor did any of the copies scream. Thankfully, Zakroff crafted this handy sigil so now you can make any book haunted! The possibilities for creating “haunted books” are endless. So if your local librarian seems extra grumpy this October it may be due to patrons either being disappointed their books are not haunted or that they are!
Tarot of the week by Star Bustamonte
Deck: The Dark Wood Tarot, by Sasha Graham, art by Abigail Larson, published by Llewellyn Publications.
Card: Two (2) of Wands – Witch of Wands
This week calls for careful consideration and planning and looking deeply at matters before making a decision.
Conversely, rushed or hasty decisions can have detrimental impacts and possibly result in the need to make amends and accept responsibility for the outcome.
Decks generously provided by Asheville Pagan Supply.
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